The Irish standard., 1887-03-26

no--pish! no. checking his anger by
a violent effort this is not altogether
my affair. Hear me, sir. You shall
not enter these doors again for six
months. If during that time YOU"
20 my good sir, you deceive yourself
very egregiously," said Kuhba, with
all the pride Of voice and manner which
he was capable of assuming-"my
course, my conduct, my fortunes and
my misfortunes are my own. You can
not point my way, sir. Undeceive
yourself, if you please.''
every we'll said, SIR replied the old
gentleman, smiling and bowing-''you
are your own master, and fine scholar
you have, sir. But suppose said your
way lay there, sir?'' pointing to the
door.
II could find it without giving you
the trouble, SIR" said Kumba.
1.-The sooner the bettor then, SIR" the
father continued, smiling and bowling
him out affectedly.
LAS soon as I get my hat,'' said the
other, snatching it at the same moment
with degree Of leyity which, though
in accordance with all his character,
the poor stupitied Lilly could not help
feeling was unkind almost to heartless-
ness, and muttering, as he returned her
fathers ironical smiles, something
about 1.-THE old mans prudence" and
his own 'tmisfortunes.
s'Quit my house, rutfian!" and the old
man now broke forth III paroxysm of
fury, while his wife and daughter flung
themselves with cries of terror about
his neck-"quit my house, ungrateful
scoundrel that you are, or Til fling you
out of the window"
Kumba, perceiving at once all the
improperly of his conduct. used an
action which seemed as though he
wished to say something in extenuation
when he was prevented by Lilly, whose
displeasure (for she could be displeased
on occasion as we'll q another)
bad been strongly reused by the last
insult to her parent.
''Begone, sir!" she exclaimed, draw
ing up her head, with q tone
and look Of .virtuous anger, be-
fore which Kumba's own pride
crumbled into dust-"I did not
know you until now. We want neither
your presence nor your apology. You
have deceived yourself, sir, it you sup
pose that any interest you may possess
in my affections can make me inseusi-
BILE 10 the duty owe my father. How
dared you sir she continued, painting
with agitatioa-"how could you use
such coarse terms to my father-and in
my presence? Go, sir. your apology
can do little!',
In a few seconds the hall-door closed
on the rejected Kumba, while the old
man gathered his daughter to his bosom
with murmuTed praises and kisses Of
afectionate admiration. This excess
of tenderness, however, was he most
injudicious course that could have been
used III the present condition Of our
little heroine's feelings. 1t softened
and let down the strings Of her gener-
GUS nature, and ulbinged the proud
consciousness of injury by which she
had been sustained. She sunk from
between his CAMS in a fit of convulsiye
grief, succeeded by fainting and re-
newed Mysteries, which it required all
the usual expedients of ether, burnt
feathers and cold affnsions to subdue.
For many days after this occurrence
had taken place, Lilly could not per-
suade herself that all was in reality at
all end between her and her lover, and
that the scene which she had witnessed
was other than q dream. ALL passed so
suddenly, SO swiftly, so Unexpectedly!
she could not believe that the beautiful
and glittering fabric which her young
and sanguine heart had constructed
with so much pains and self-gratulation,
should thus, at the very point Of its
completion, be utterly buried from her
view, passing as rapidly as the rushing
of summer wind, and leaving no
trace of its existence more evident than
than the dreary sound of its departing
glory. She still listened while at her
work for the knock Of her lover-suffer-
ing under an agony, in which all the
fever of protracted expectation was
combined with the sullen and barren
stiffness of despair. Every approaching
footstep startled her with a sudden
hope, which was awakened only to be
again struck lifeless by the pang of a
disappointment quite as sudden. Her
parents no longer received from her
that devoted attention which in the Sc
curity Of her youthful affection she had
been accustomed to pay them. When
she knelt before them and bent her
head to receive the parental benedic-
ton at morning and evening" the once
sweetly murmured blessing, father
mother, blessing!" was hurried over al
most 1,nconscinus1v. and thn affactiOn-